Flash-light attachment for guns



May 22, 1923.

J. P. HISE FLASH LIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR GUNS Filed March 3, 1922 Patented May 22, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

FLASH-LIGHT ATTACHMENT FOB GUNS.

Application filed March 3, 1922. Serial No. 540,785.

To aZZ w from it may concern Be it known that J OHN PAUL Hisn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hightown, in the county of Highland and State of Virginia, has invented new and useful Improvements in Flash- Light Attachments for Guns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide, for use in connection with fire arms, and particularly sporting rifles, a flashlight attachment which, in addition to having means of adjustment to adapt it for long and short range, both with relation to the diameter of the light area and the angular direction with reference to the gun barrel, is provided with a separable light unit which may be disconnected from the gun with which the attachment is associ atedfor independent use in determining the location and identity of objects toward which it is undesirable to point the gun, or for general purposes other than those associated with the use of the fire arm; and furthermore to provide a device 03f this type and for this purpose wherein the construction is simplified particularly with ref erence to the means for controlling the operation of the light or the closing or opening of the battery circuit by which the light is controlled; and with these objects in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view partly broken away of a flashlight attachment embodying the invention applied in the operative position to a rifle barrel.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view in plan of the attachment.

Figure 3 is a further enlarged sectional view of the lighting unit or flashlight proper.

lhe attachment embodies essentially a tubular guide 10 provided with means for attachment to the barrel 11 of a sporting rifle or other fire arm. and a lighting unit or flashlight proper 12 removably fitted in the guide for sliding movement in a direction substantially parallel with the gun barrel for varying the diameter of the area of light projected by the lighting unit to suit the range or distance of the object from the sportsman.

In the construction illustrated the guide is provided with front and rear clamps 13 and 14 for engaging the gun barrel and adapted to be secured thereto in embracing relation therewith as shown, the rear clamp having connection with supporting blocks 15 with which is associated an adjusting element such as a screw 16 to serve as a In'eans of varying the angular position of the guide with relation to the axis of the gun barrel to cause a convergence upon a point at the range of the proposed shot, to the end that the axis of the barrel may be directed at about the center of the light area projected by the lighting unit upon the object at which the barrel is aimed. The block is extended beyond the rear end of the guide to form an ear 17 in an open ing of which the adjusting screw is threaded, with the lower end of the screw stepped or swiveled in the gun barrel, so that by turning the screw in one direction or the other the heel of the guide may be raised or lowered to suit the proposed range of the shot. The guide carries the front and rear sights 18 and 19.

The guide is flared at its rear end as shown at 20 to facilitate the introduction of the lighting unit which in common with the commercial forms of flashlights is of tubular construction, as shown in detail in Figure 3, the shell 21 thereof being provided with a lateral stem 22 operating in a longitudinal slot 23 in the tubular guide 10 and having a terminal knob 24: to be grasped by the operator in moving the light unit forwardly and rearwardly in the guide to vary the area of the spot of light projected upon the object aimed at, to suit the range of the proposed shot.

The shell of the light unit encloses the usual battery 25 held in place by the cushioning spring 26 and provided in its forward end with a lens 27 and bulb 28, and in rear of the latter is arranged a deep or long distance reflector 29 and a switch having a yielding tongue 30 controlled by a push button 31 of which the outer extremity projects beyond the surface of the shell 21. With a guide of a diameter adapted to snugly fit the shell of the light unit it is obvious that the push button controlling the switch will be held depressed or actuated to close the circuit and thus operate the light, and in order that the light may be extinguished, without withdrawing the lighting unit from the guide tube, the latter is provided at a convenient point such as that indicated at 32 with an offset or pocket for the reception of the push button and of a depth sufficient to permit the push button to recede or move outwardly to open the switch. Therefore with the parts in the position indicated in Figure 2, when it is desired to use the lighting attachment it is only necessary by grasping the opcrating button 2% to move the lighting attachment either forwardly or rearwardly in the guide tube to cause one or the other of the cam faces 33 at the ends of the oil set or pocket 32 to engage the rounded surface of and repress the push button 31 in order to close the circuit. and a further movement in the desired direction will vary the area of the spot of light projected from the tube to suit the proposed range.

\Vhen the lighting unit is desired for use other than that in connection with the fire arm or for the purpose of illuminating and enabling the operator to determine the character of an object other than that toward which he may lesire to aim the gun, it is only necessary to continue the rearward movement of the lighting unit through the agency of the operating button 2i until said unit is entirely removed from the guide tube when it may be used in the same way as an ordinary flashlight. Should the object thus distinguished be such as to form proper game the lighting unit may be-irn mediately replaced in the tube and brought to bear upon the object of the proposed shot.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is1- 1. A flashlight attachment for fire arms having a tubular guide and means for attaching the same to the barrel of a fire arm. and a lighting unit slidably and removablv fitted in said guide. the lighting unit having an exteriorly projecting switch button. and the guide having a cam for actuating said button upon the longitudinal movement of the lighting unit. 7

A flashlight attachment for fire arms having a tubular guide and means for at taching the same to the barrel of a fire arm. and the lighting unit slidably and removablv fitted in said guide. the lighting unit having an exteriorly projecting switch button and the guide having an offset or pocket for the reception thereof to per mit the opening of the switch.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

JOHN PAUL HISE. 

